RADIO
Dolphins Acquire Running Back Jarquez Hunter From Rams
The Miami Dolphins are acquiring running back Jarquez Hunter from the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday in exchange for wide receiver Tutu Atwell, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Hunter was selected 117th overall in the fourth round in the 2025 NFL draft by the Rams out of Auburn, but he did not see any usage on offense during his first year in the league. The 23-year-old also saw limited action on special teams. Hunter showed good burst and speed out of the backfield in college, but he has never been much of an asset on passing downs, which will limit his long-term upside with his move to South Beach. In Miami, he will not have much of a clearer path to touches in 2026, as he'll likely be the Dolphins' No. 4 option behind starter De'Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, and Ollie Gordon II (ribs). Hunter will now have to learn a new offense with time running out before the start of the regular season. At best, he is a dynasty/keeper stash for RB depth. Hunter can be ignored in single-year fantasy leagues.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Tutu Atwell Heads Back to Rams in Trade
The Los Angeles Rams are acquiring wide receiver Tutu Atwell from the Miami Dolphins on Thursday in exchange for running back Jarquez Hunter, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Atwell was being listed as a second-team wideout in Miami in training camp despite their utter lack of depth at the position, so they have traded the 26-year-old back to the Rams in exchange for extra RB depth in Hunter. Atwell was a second-round pick by the Rams in 2021 out of Louisville, and he caught 105 of his 179 targets for 1,535 yards and five touchdowns in his five years with the team. In 10 games last season, Atwell caught just six passes for 192 yards and one score after going for a career-high 562 yards and 42 receptions (zero touchdowns) in 17 games in 2024. Back in L.A., Atwell re-enters a familiar offense, but he will have a tougher path to targets unless one or both of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams miss time with injuries. He will be competing with Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield for scraps behind Nacua and Adams and will not be on the redraft fantasy radar with the move back to the Rams.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Wan'Dale Robinson Being Evaluated for a Concussion
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh said that wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (head) is being evaluated for a concussion, according to Turron Davenport of ESPN. Robinson walked into the building on his own after a hit during joint practice with the Chicago Bears on Wednesday on what Saleh called a cheap shot. It is good news that Robinson was able to walk off the field under his own power, but if he lands in the league's concussion protocol, he could be questionable to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. The 25-year-old former second-rounder by the New York Giants in 2022 from Kentucky had his first 1,000-yard season in 2025 on 92 receptions in 16 games, and he signed with the Titans in the offseason to reunite with former Giants head coach Brian Daboll (now Tennessee's offensive coordinator). Robinson is expected to be a big part of the Titans' passing attack this year and could lead them in targets if he stays healthy. If he is diagnosed with a concussion and misses Week 1 against the New York Jets, rookie first-rounder Carnell Tate and Calvin Ridley would be the top two pass-catchers, with second-year wideouts Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike being forced into larger roles. Stay tuned for more details on Robinson's injury.
Source: ESPN.com - Turron Davenport
Source: ESPN.com - Turron Davenport
Caleb Bonemer Showing Off Power Stroke in 2026
Chicago White Sox infield prospect Caleb Bonemer is not only fitting in at Double-A Birmingham, he's excelling, too. Chicago's second-ranked prospect is hitting .268, which is 30 points higher than his average was at High-A, while reducing his strikeout rate by more than four percent and drawing a few more walks. It has resulted in a .962 OPS with 16 home runs in 55 games for the Barons, and combined with his 18 home runs from High-A, the former second-rounder has now blasted 34 home runs on the season, including four in his last six games. While he isn't known for his speed, the 6-foot-1 slugger has also tallied 16 steals between both levels, providing strong all-around production. The right-handed hitter should see time at Triple-A in 2027 and could be in the mix for a second-half call-up to the majors, so redraft managers should be familiar with the name.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Cade Smith Still an Elite Source of Saves in Cleveland
Despite allowing a run in two of his last three appearances, Cleveland Guardians right-handed closer Cade Smith has locked down five saves since his last blown save on Aug. 5 against the New York Mets. In 10 appearances (10 innings pitched) in August, Smith has allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with six walks, 14 strikeouts, five saves, and one blown save. The 27-year-old Canadian earned his first All-Star nod this year and has really stepped up at the back end of the Guards' bullpen in 2026, going 3-1 with a 2.40 ERA (2.52 FIP), 1.08 WHIP, a career-high 35 saves, 84 strikeouts, and 20 walks in 60 relief innings. His 35 saves trail only Tampa Bay Rays closer Bryan Baker for the lead in MLB, and his 84 strikeouts are tied with Brent Headrick and Grant Taylor for fifth in baseball among all relievers. The former 16th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2017 has picked up a save in each of his last four appearances out of the bullpen, and he's not slowing down at all as we approach the final month of the regular season in September.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Kyren Williams' Workload Ceiling Takes a Hit
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams remains the lead option in a high-powered offense, but Blake Corum's continued rise puts some pressure on his 2026 workload ceiling. Williams started all 17 games last season and rushed 259 times for 1,252 yards and 10 touchdowns, adding 36 catches for 281 yards and three more scores. Corum became more involved late in 2025 and carried that momentum into camp, where the Rams repeatedly highlighted his improved explosiveness and agility. He was again one of the offensive standouts during the team's final open practice. Williams still produced at an RB1 level as Corum's role grew, finishing as the RB10 over the final six weeks while Corum was RB17 during that stretch. He also remains the better receiving option and continues to work with Matthew Stafford and the first-team offense. The concern is not that Williams has lost the backfield. It is that another season near 300 touches looks harder to project with Corum earning more work. RotoBaller currently ranks Williams RB13, keeping him firmly in fantasy-starter territory, but with a little more workload risk than before.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rainiel Rodriguez Surging at Double-A Springfield
St. Louis Cardinals catcher prospect Rainiel Rodriguez took some time settling in at Double-A Springfield after his promotion in early May, hitting just .182 with two extra-base hits over his first 21 games there. However, since then, the Cardinals' top-ranked prospect has caught fire, hitting .368 with 20 doubles and 18 home runs in just 53 games, good for a 1.134 OPS during that time. That type of production is impressive on its own merit, but the right-handed hitter is doing all of this as one of the youngest players in Double-A at age 19. The youngster is in position to begin 2027 at Triple-A and has a shot to debut next year despite his age, though it is crowded at catcher in St. Louis with Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages, and fellow catching prospect Leo Bernal, so it will be interesting to see how it shakes out. Rodriguez (and Bernal, for that matter) has played some first base this year, and with his power potential, designated hitter is always an option as well, which gives him multiple paths to the majors. The 5-foot-10 Dominican should be on redraft managers' radar in 2027, and his dynasty arrow is pointing way up.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Mike Sirota Closing in on Triple-A Amid Productive 2026 Campaign
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Mike Sirota has had a productive campaign between High-A and Double-A this year, which included an impressive 72-game streak in which he got on base at least once via hit, walk, or hit-by-pitch. Despite moving up a level, he's maintained similar statistics (i.e., strikeout, walk rate, OBP) even in the face of stiffer competition. At Double-A alone, the Dodgers' second-ranked prospect is slashing .299/.452/.502 with 10 home runs and five steals through 66 games at Tulsa. With Triple-A in sight, the former third-round draft pick will be knocking on the door to the majors next year, and with a solid all-around skill set in what will presumably be a formidable Dodger lineup, the 23-year-old has a chance to be a productive fantasy asset whenever he gets the call.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Kansas Names Isaiah Marshall As Starting Quarterback
Kansas named Isaiah Marshall as the starting quarterback for the 2026 season. His first start will come against Long Island on September 4. Marshall saw limited action last year as a freshman, completing all three pass attempts for 28 yards. He also had 15 carries for 160 yards. Marshall beat out Cole Ballard for the starting job, even though Ballard saw more action than Marshall in 2025. Marshall, a redshirt sophomore from the 2023 class out of Southfield, Michigan, was rated as the No. 14 dual threat QB in that class. We saw what coach Lance Leipold was able to do with Jalon Daniels at Kansas. Marshall is a little smaller than Daniels, but the skill sets are similar. Those of you in fantasy leagues who have a poor Week 1 matchup can take a look at Marshall as a streaming option vs. Long Island.
Source: Pete Thamel on X
Source: Pete Thamel on X
Nate Boerkircher Securing Jacksonville's TE2 Role
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Nate Boerkircher has strengthened his redraft outlook by emerging as the clear No. 2 option behind Brenton Strange. The second-round rookie has been listed directly behind Strange on Jacksonville's depth chart throughout the preseason, and the Jaguars gave another indication of how they view him by sitting both tight ends against Carolina last Friday. Boerkircher did play in the preseason opener against New Orleans and went without a target, though his work as a blocker drew positive reviews. His receiving upside has shown up more often in practice. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound rookie caught a red-zone touchdown from Trevor Lawrence during joint work with Carolina, and Jacksonville has discussed using more multiple-tight end packages this season. Boerkircher caught only 38 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns across his college career, but the Jaguars believe those numbers undersold what he can offer as a receiver. Strange remains firmly atop the position and Jacksonville has plenty of other targets, so standard-league value will be difficult to find early. Still, Boerkircher's increasingly secure TE2 role makes him a name to watch in deeper redraft and tight end-premium formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jesus Made Cools Off, Eyeing 2027 Debut
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Jesus Made has cooled off at Double-A over the past few weeks, now 12-for-69 (.174) over his last 18 games without a single multi-hit game or home run during that time. It shows how hot he was earlier this year; despite the slowdown, the switch-hitter is still batting .273 with a solid .348 on-base percentage, 13 home runs, and 33 steals through 110 games at Biloxi. MLB's No. 1 overall prospect is also striking out at just a 14.5 percent rate at Double-A, and he's doing all of this as one of only a handful of players still under the age of 20 at that level. A 2026 debut was a long shot anyway, but between the slowdown and having yet to play a single game at Triple-A, it's almost certain that it won't happen at this point. Look for the talented Dominican to make a run at a debut next year, and with a strong combination of hit, power, and run tools, expect him to be one of the top stashes in redraft fantasy leagues as his debut draws nearer.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Eugenio Suarez Clears Waivers, Staying With Reds
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez and outfielder TJ Friedl have both cleared waivers and will be with the team in Chicago on Friday for their series opener against the division-rival Cubs at Wrigley Field, team sources told C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. The Reds placed Suarez and Friedl on outright waivers on Wednesday night, but they have gone unclaimed and are likely to finish out the 2026 season with the Reds before moving on as free agents this winter. Suarez, 35, has 19 home runs in 361 at-bats in 2026, including a big grand slam in an improbable comeback win over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, but he's also hitting just .208/.295/.410 with a .705 OPS and a career-high 34.9% strikeout rate in his 13th year in the big leagues. The Reds were hoping another team might take Suarez and his $3 million salary the rest of the way off their hands as they look to save a little money going into the offseason. Suarez will remain with Cincy for just over a month left in the season, where he'll provide fantasy managers with some pop but little else.
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
Ben Rice Showing Signs of Life Amidst Second-Half Slump
New York Yankees catcher/first baseman Ben Rice has had an incredible third season in the big leagues (second full season) in 2026, slashing .251/.350/.529 with an .878 OPS, a career-high 35 home runs, 83 RBI, 83 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 127 games played across 546 plate appearances. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger went 1-for-2 at the plate with his 35th homer of the year, three runs scored, and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-3 win over the Houston Astros in the Bronx, and he now has three home runs in his last nine games. Only Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez has more home runs than Rice in the American League. Although Rice has heated up of late, overall in August he has struggled, going 12-for-77 (.156) with a .633 OPS, four home runs, a double, 10 RBI, 13 runs scored, a stolen base, 15 walks, and 25 strikeouts. Since the All-Star break, he is slashing only .179/.295/.351 with a .646 OPS, six home runs, five doubles, 15 RBI, 19 runs scored, one steal, 20 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 36 games and 156 plate appearances. Fantasy managers who have reaped the benefits of Rice's 2026 breakout should not be selling now.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Tyler Higbee's Crowded Tight End Room Limits Redraft Appeal
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee remains part of the first-team offense, but the depth around him continues to work against his redraft value. Higbee caught 25 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games last season, then re-signed with Los Angeles on a two-year deal in March. He has been healthy this summer and recorded two receptions during the Rams' August 11 joint practice with Dallas, so this is not a case of Higbee falling out of the offense. The problem is volume. Colby Parkinson posted 43 catches for 408 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025, Terrance Ferguson and Davis Allen are both back, and Los Angeles added Max Klare with the 61st overall pick. The Rams leaned heavily on multi-tight end personnel last season, but having five capable options makes it difficult for any one of them to command steady targets behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. RotoBaller's August 25 half-PPR rankings have Higbee 368th overall. He can still pop for a touchdown in the right matchup, but standard redraft managers should view him as a streaming option rather than a weekly starter.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ja'Tavion Sanders Falling Out of the Redraft Picture
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders has seen his redraft outlook take another hit with Darren Waller now working into the first-team offense. Sanders already had competition from Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans, and Carolina's latest unofficial depth chart lists him third at the position. Waller is still buried on that chart while he ramps up, but the practice usage tells a different story. The veteran got his most extensive team-drill work Wednesday, including snaps with Bryce Young and the starters, and Young connected with him several times during the joint practice against Houston. Sanders is coming off a disappointing second season in which he caught 29 of 34 targets for 190 yards and one touchdown in 13 games, down from 342 receiving yards as a rookie. Waller, meanwhile, scored six touchdowns in nine games for Miami last season and gives Carolina another proven receiving option at tight end. His age and injury history leave some uncertainty, but Sanders' immediate path to routes and targets has narrowed considerably. RotoBaller recently recommended leaving him undrafted in most 2026 leagues, which fits where his redraft value stands now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
